The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-25
/" AUNT HANNAH"
Murrsy's Magazine.


q defined position, and l sometimes
fancy mine must be the good Great
ure" Of the family.
II is large and scattered family
and gives ample scope for every kind
Of usefulness. Time was when l
was the spOilt child Of it; but years
have hurried on, and the bright
promise was early nipped in the bud
by the death OF my dear parents,
privileged to pass away within
twenty. four hours Of each other.
As lett the church yard where
the sun shone softly down upon
their undivided grave, and strove to
realize that henceforward those true
and tender hearts were sharers in
the glorious sunshine OF eternal day,
/ looked into the cold, hard face Of
my eldest brother, and knew that
the days ofsympathetic love in my
old home were over aud done with
for me. Robert was not unkind or
unjust, but sympathy was quality
utterly wanting in his composition,
and ii he was just and fair toward
others, what on earth could others
want more, in heavens manner he
would ask impatiently.
All, we'll, justice is much; but love
and sympathy, what are they not
worth in all our lives, from the
highest lady in the land. whose sym
patty never fails in time OF need,
down to the little school child, who
will spare o few precious crumbs OF
cake for the hungry robin in its
pathf
Ny other brothers and sisters
we're all married and scattered over
the world, and Roberts children
we're but q few years younger than
myself, the youngest Of their fathers
generation.
For some years / lived on in the
dear old home and strove to be oil
what use | could. No one scrupled
to make use Of me, am bound TO
say, and by degrees the family motto
seemed to be: Aunt Hannah will
do it. She don't mind"
Did she mind? Sometimes think
she did.
The young ones were growing up
and 10 them my few additional year
constituted, il not old age, At Ieas
advanced middle age. Little dc
they think, whilst their nimble tee
vhirled 10 Aunt Hannah's playinl
II could play, and for many reason
threw my heart INTO doing my bes
> for their dance)-little did the.
think, | say, how my own shoes wer
tvitchipg under the piano with
longing 10 be given chance OF
turn myself. =.
One night | overheard q sir
young guardsboy murmur to m
niece: =,
but, / say. won't your aunt b
tired, playing 30 longY
"Tiredl Oh, no, she wont mind,
responded Edith. "She likes it.
/ bent my head over the Tisno an
sulped down the choke that almoi
oyerpowered me as steadily marke
time in that vslse tune OF mar
memories. Up before the eyes
my memory rose that evening, sevc
years before, upon which my fniul
life had seemed 10 hinge. L vi
twenty then, and had been for "
years an inmate OF my brother
home. | was twenty-seyen now. al
was still considered too young
have q home Of my own by elder =
lations, too old for young lady anus
ments by the younger generation.
SO | steadily played on, aud .
thoughts fnated away backwards
that evening | have limited at:
saw once more 4 tall, dark hair
girl, with hazel eyes, and lar aw
looi in them, aud over her bent
broad shouldered, curly hair
young giant, whose voice tremol
A. he said: "God bless you, dArli
little Hannah, | will come tomorr'
and see Robert and you
But oh, Mike, Mike, why did
~ never come-never, never, aud
next thing that | heard was that
had gone TO India the follow
week, and the year after | heard Z
you were married. And oh, what
/ done, what had | done, 10 desc
such blow Is this2
Had | misunderstood him. q,
Heavens had / shown that / thou
he loved me, and he had meant no
ING aud taken fright, aud done
most ~ jiIul thing he could
val ..Tg from out OF my liiep
Night and day | wearied mysel
think out this agosiIing pnz
Spsak 10 Robert, | dared . I: W
could he think ol girl Sho had
miied she loved some one, when
some one had too clearly not gis
for her loyeH
Rob,rt's wife was wrapped al
her babies, aud on the only occa
on which | had braced my hear
ask her advice, had answered
through the r,igning infant: ="
her see mutient be 'toopid aud q
my Tootsecwootsee see mutt
and play wiz 90, my precious !
tent seef
HenceiOrWtru loubh. w W
alope, and subsidized into the long
ieripe. placid Aunt Hannah, who
suppoeed rot 20 mind" the dr
HIS OF employment which all
others shi,kei.
Just when had struck tive
seven ny rich old godmo,her {
and to my surprise lett me a b
am, slice Of her fortune, eoull
with Il The command that ! sh
take h or oame 10 place OF my
Prom Hannah Grey. | became, u
fore, strsightWay Hanna SIM
With my new name ! iurther
asserted my ipdepe9debce, an
up Tor myself a Lutte house 10
don. Ny dear old nurse took
lead 10 my household, aed the
night that I established myseI
ms own firoside and started as a
lone woman, | LAID my head o
Lnees and cried as II NY heart
break. Aisle asked no quess,l
but stroked ny head 10 sil
60 -. -. hl.aaad nth 4